So, we’ve gathered together five things for you to consider if you are thinking your bathroom could do with updating; if you’re wondering whether some under-utilised space could be converted to create a brand new bespoke wetroom or shower room; or are planning a complete bathroom renovation project.
Let’s start at the very beginning. This is one question that we find many new customers don’t dig deep enough into the nitty-gritty detail. And that’s fine. Because as soon as we arrive ladened with brochures and samples, and highlight the possibilities you might not have ever considered, then you are highly likely to have a rethink!
Not only in terms of the finish and final fixtures and fittings. But also making the best use of the space you have in your existing bathroom. We may even come up with new suggestions to create an additional bathroom in a space you’d never considered.
One of the main considerations is whether you want the traditional bathroom suite, including a bath and shower, a separate shower unit, or would you prefer to discount the bath altogether? In doing so, you could benefit from more storage options or a more luxurious sense of space around you.
Do you want a relaxing spa feel or a more simple yet stylish and practical quick ‘in and out first thing in the morning’ bathroom?
You might not want to think too far ahead but taking your health and practicalities around mobility into the equation now could save expense and disruption as these things come to the forefront of your minds in the future. So, would your circumstances be more suited to a stylish wetroom?
Of course, we always work to your budget in our suggestions.
Now, this is something that takes time and thought! And we wish there was one answer that covered all eventualities. Unfortunately it’s not so. Simply because there are so many factors within any bathroom renovation project that can impact the amount of labour involved. For example changes to your current layout – plumbing, heating, electrics – and of course the style and finish you want to achieve…
Smart and formal, spa or sanctuary? Smart controls for your heating, lighting, and sound to be factored in? Now, that’s got you thinking, hasn’t it?
We accommodate any level of expenditure, and we’ll never recommend any alterations or additional work if it simply isn’t needed.
One assessment of your layout and a chat about your plans will give us an indication of what is required. And as bathroom installations are one of our main services, please trust us when we say it might not always be as straightforward as you thought.
For instance, if we’re removing a bath altogether, we will need to see what is lurking behind that bath panel, how the floorboards or flooring beneath the bath is holding up, and what alterations we’ll need to make, if any, to the pipes and plumbing.
We’ll check your water pressure and boiler are up to the job if you want a power shower or larger rainwater shower. And if you want to opt for an open shower, will your current bathroom heating be enough to warm the space through?
With a complete restructure of your current bathroom layout, there could be additional space to be gained from existing cabinets or boxed-in pipes. This could involve other trades coming in too, but worth it in the long run. Again, we can help with this assessment.
Listing everything you want and need from the start is vital, so we can manage expectations. But here at Supreme Plumbing & Heating, we strongly believe in being clear and transparent in our bathroom renovation project quotes, as with all our services. So once we have given you the breakdown of costs, we will keep to that figure.
We may advise a contingency budget, depending on what we find when we carry out our first survey, but we’ll always keep you in the loop and never do any additional work without your approval.
The great thing is, our team has such extensive skills and knowledge, we can cover your heating, plumbing, tiling, plastering, and electrical jobs, and will project-manage to completion.
When planning a bathroom renovation project, one thing you must remember about lighting is it must be IP-rated (Ingress Protection safety rating against water ingress). This typically means bathrooms must have closed lights to prevent steam and moisture seepage.
Would you prefer ceiling spotlights or downlights? In which case, will lowering the ceiling be necessary and another factor to build into the budget?
Alternatively, there are some amazing wall cabinets and mirrors with enclosed lighting features, which will also act as space savers.
We mentioned smart controls for your heating and bathroom lighting earlier, so you can have lighting for every mood. Bright for the morning to wake you up, and lower lights for relaxation in the evening. And you could even have them on a sensor, so you don’t have to try to find the light switch in the middle of the night!
When it comes to bathroom heating though, nothing smacks of the ultimate in comfort quite like underfloor heating. With options for either piped or an electric supply, we will be able to find something to suit all bathroom shapes and sizes.
And even if underfloor heating is out of the equation, we would highly recommend a combined dual-fuel radiator and heated towel rail. This means your bathroom is heated when you need it, but can still dry your towels in the warmer periods when you don’t always want your central heating on.
Again, think about how you want your bathroom to look and what it’s actually being used for.
Do you want minimal toiletries on show, with just a lovely display of warm, cosy towels? Are you wanting specifically designed storage space for cleaning products and toiletries out of sight? What does your current layout allow by way of boxing in pipes and doubling up that space for a cupboard?
If space is no issue, free-standing storage units and shelves can be an added feature, possibly to tone down the colours and finish you’ve chosen. Or else they can bring a splash of colour to neutral toned rooms.
Of course, if you want a streamlined look, recessed shelving in the bath and shower area or close to the basin will finish it off perfectly. Lighting can be added to help with the mood and atmosphere.
We want to make the entire bathroom renovation project as straightforward as possible for you, so one final question is what to expect within your home whilst the work is being carried out.
Similar to the question of budget for your project, several variables could impact the time taken and the level of disruption you may experience.
If your project involves a complete revamp of layout, structural work, and various trades then it might be advisable to look for somewhere as an alternative at least for some of the time. However, we will let you know if we think this is going to be most comfortable for you.
In most cases, the work could take up to a couple of weeks, and tools, supplies, and rubbish will need to be stored somewhere until the job is done.
Consider also that we’ll need to turn off the water and, at some point, possibly also the electrics – although we’ll give you plenty of notice for this.
All of this aside though, we will always leave you with an operational toilet, even if the rest of the bathroom is not yet up and running. And we do our utmost to keep our working areas as tidy as we can before we leave each day.
As you can see, there are many options open to you. And possibly even more questions to be answered. This is why Supreme Plumbing & Heating will be with you every step of the way.
From the initial survey and assessment of your property, to planning, installing, and ongoing bathroom and heating maintenance we are the ‘one-stop shop’ for all your bathroom, plumbing, and heating needs.
You don’t even have to leave your home to do your bathroom ‘shopping’ – we bring with us samples and brochures. So, if you get the kettle on for a good old cup of Yorkshire Tea, we’ll help you with all your decisions.
Oh, and one final thing, as Gas Safe Registered engineers, we can guarantee our work is of the highest standard, and will leave you in no doubt that you chose the right team to work with, and that you, your home, and your loved ones are in safe hands.
Give us a call to schedule your no-obligation discussion. And you, too, will see why Supreme Plumbing & Heating is so well known in Scarborough and the surrounding areas for our pride and professionalism and high-quality job completion. We’ll make every phase of your bathroom renovation project seamless and stress-free!
Afterall, we would hate you to take precious time from your day if your heating issue is actually something completely different!
Maintaining your radiators is part and parcel of an effective central heating system. However, like many other household tasks, it often slips down the list of importance, going unnoticed, until something goes wrong.
We pay attention to our boilers and soon notice when they’re not working. Yet we forget about the radiators themselves – ironically, the things we see and possibly even touch every day. Many don’t even consider asking ‘how do I bleed a radiator?’ before calling a professional in to fix their heating problems. Or else they leave them only partially working which could be costing more than necessary, in terms of bills and discomfort, especially at this time of year.
Without going into too much of the science behind it, we’ll simply say that air can naturally become trapped inside your radiators when new water enters the heating system, with movement caused by the central heating pump, or even when repairs and maintenance are being carried out.
What does this mean? If the air is not released, the heating system has to work harder than normal to produce the same level of heat. As air bubbles expand, the heating becomes even less efficient, and we eventually notice that the temperature is cooler within our homes.
Bleeding the radiator allows the trapped air to escape and the hot water to flow efficiently through the heating system once again.
There are a number of signs which will tell you air is trapped in your radiators:
When people ask, “how do I bleed a radiator?” they imagine it’s going to get messy and will take longer than it actually does.
Much as we love seeing our existing and, of course, new customers, we wanted to share this post with you, to encourage you to keep an eye on your radiators yourself. To help you avoid any unnecessary and unexpected costs of calling out a plumber or heating engineer.
You only need a few things to bleed your radiator:
So, now you know the reasons a radiator may need bleeding, what signs to look out for, and what you will need, we’re ready to answer, “how do I bleed a radiator?”
We recommend bleeding your radiators at least once a year, but certainly before the colder weather settles in. You don’t want to get caught out just as winter starts.
If you are left with any queries after this “how do I bleed a radiator?” post, or would like any further information on any of our plumbing and heating services, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Supreme Plumbing & Heating. We are your local Gas Safe Registered experts and close at hand in an emergency, or just for some friendly advice.
Are you unexpectedly already feeling the pinch with your energy bills? Have you noticed some strange noises or smells when your central heating comes on? Or are your radiators not keeping your home as warm as they used to? We all know energy bills are likely to increase in the coming months, but any of the above might be a sign that your boiler needs checking. If you’re unsure about whether or not your boiler needs replacing, this post highlights five things to consider when needing a new boiler, and will answer some of your questions.
This is one of our most frequently asked questions. And there are several signs that your boiler might need replacing. The first, and most obvious, is simply that your boiler has stopped working altogether. In which case you could be looking at an emergency call out to investigate and rectify the issue. The team at Supreme Plumbing & Heating cover Scarborough and surrounding areas, so can be with you in a flash to get you and your loved ones feeling cosy once again.
But there are other things to look out for if your boiler is faulty, it leaks, is noisy, or only works intermittently.
Any of the above could be due to the age of your boiler, or a lack of annual maintenance. With heating making up over 50% of your energy bill (data from the Energy Saving Trust), you want your boiler to perform reliably and efficiently. We have been inspecting, servicing, repairing, installing, and replacing boilers for over two decades so we know what to look out for and how to put the problems right.
But not only do you want your boiler to be reliable and trustworthy, we also know you want the same from your plumbing and heating experts. This is why we explain the issue with you in terms you will understand, and will never go ahead with a job without first discussing your options and the costs involved. Therefore, nothing is a shock when it comes to completion of the job.
We touched briefly on your energy bills earlier, and this is where the boiler “efficiency rating” comes in. Whilst it may be tempting to put off an investment such as replacing your boiler, when you weigh up the alternative of ongoing repair and maintenance costs of a G-rated (older model) boiler, against the longer-term cost-savings of a new A-rated boiler, it might be closer to your budget than you think.
From an efficiency perspective, A-rated boilers operate at 90% or above, whereas G-rated boilers run at as little as 70%. At the present energy rates, this could mean a saving of around £200 to £300 per year if you upgrade to a newer model.
Replacing your old boiler could also mean longer-term benefits for the environment as well, with A-rated boilers burning one-third less fuel, whilst still heating your home and water to the same level.
We appreciate you will want to know how much you are likely to need to cover the cost, so purely as an indication, the average cost of a boiler replacement is around £2,500. But, as the Supreme Plumbing & Heating engineers are Gas-Safe registered and Worcester-accredited, we are happy to guide you when it comes to making your decision, and also carrying out any additional inspections and remedial work required to ensure your home is completely safe at the same time.
The final thing to note on the cost of a replacement boiler, is that we offer extended warranties of 10-12 years on boiler installations. Certainly, something to sweeten the investment, with extra peace of mind.
This is a great question and we’ve included it within our five things to consider when needing a new boiler, simply because there is no easy answer!
A number of factors could influence the time it takes to complete the job, but again as an indication, you can expect it to be fitted within five days or less. However, this depends on the ease of access to the boiler itself, the flue, and your heating system; the extent of any damage to the boiler and related parts; whether we are relocating the boiler position and the work entailed within this; and obviously if you are having any other work carried out at the same time.
This is another reason we take the time to fully understand your requirements and provide a detailed quote and schedule for your approval before we begin. We will never rush a job – you and your safety are too important for us to do that – but we will always complete it as soon as we can.
Here at Supreme Plumbing & Heating, we not only complete the work you have asked us to, but we go that one step further and consider what will make the experience even better for you.
For instance, we may also make recommendations for improvement, purely for your benefit.
Our values, and your expectations of customer service excellence, are at the heart of all we do. And if we can see a better location for your boiler to be fitted, for safety and your ease of accessibility, then that is what we will recommend, rather than just going ahead with a straightforward boiler replacement.
As a known business with a strong reputation, we are often trusted with a key to the property and simply left to get on with the job.
We clear up after ourselves, we check you are completely satisfied with our work, and off we go. Simple as that!
We know you will be 100% satisfied with our work, however, the last of our five things to consider when needing a new boiler is that even we recommend doing your research on the company you are looking to engage.
We want you to be certain that we are a safe and reliable boiler engineer, so please take a look at some of our customer testimonials to give you an idea of the lengths we are willing to go to in order to give you the best service.
Once you are confident that you would like us to quote, just give us a call at the office. After a site survey, we will provide you with a breakdown of the main price and any associated costs within the project. And as a local team, providing plumbing and heating services in your area for over 20 years now, you can be assured you will be dealing with a business proud to have built a great customer portfolio of thousands of completed jobs.
And finally ….
If we have not covered your particular question within our five things to consider when needing a new boiler, or if you are ready to go ahead and book an appointment for this or any of our plumbing and heating services, please call the team today. We will take the heat out of your situation, without leaving you in the cold!
